Federal disaster declaration requested for wildfires

Gov. Jerry Brown Saturday requested a presidential major disaster declaration in order to beef up emergency response and help residents recover from wildfires raging in Northern California.

With Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Shasta counties under siege from wildfires, Brown met with local leaders and fire and emergency officials at the Carr Fire incident command post in Shasta County today and requested the presidential declaration.

“Battling these relentless fires requires a Herculean effort,” Brown said in the declaration. “Additional federal assistance is needed immediately to reduce the direct threat to the public health and safety.”

Presidential declarations such as the one sought by Brown make individuals living in the affected areas eligible for such services as crisis counseling, unemployment assistance, food aid and legal services.